Monthly fee for solar panels

WILLEMSTAD - Individuals who want to install solar panels on their roof to generate renewable energy, will have to pay 16 guilders per panel per month to the government starting January next year. For businesses the rate is 32 guilders per month.

The monthly fee is called a service fee, thus also contributing to the maintenance of the grid. This is according to Darick Jones, Director of the utility company Aqualectra.

Previously, consumers and companies paid nothing. And that is, according to Dutch Durables, a supplier and installer of solar panels on Curacao, not entirely fair because these people use Aqualectra’s power grid at night.

Also, starting January, the electricity will yield less for the customers when selling solar panel electricity to the utility company. Aqualectra now pays 42 cents per kilowatt hour, but on January 1 it will be 33 cents. That has to do with a financial obligation that has to be repaid to the tax department.